Collapsible coop.



F. 1); BERGMAN. GOLLAPSIBLE 0001*. APPLICATION IILBD MAY 17, 1909,

" Patented M31221, 1911.

mtnes 5 I lnlfnforz A @MZZ W ls Prsks :o., WASHINGYON. b. c.

FREDERICK D. BERGMAN, F MILWAUKEE, VJISCONSIN.

COLLAPSIBLE COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 17, 1909.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Serial No. 496,459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK D. Bane MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, andState of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible Coops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible coops and refersmore particularly to a device adapted for use in shipping poultry andthe like.

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a constructionthe folding parts of which are so arranged, when in extended position,as to brace each other, and in which the folding side members, when inextended position, lock the ends and top against collapsing; to providea construction the various parts of which are automatically locked inextended position, and which when collapsed occupies a relatively smallspace; to provide a construction in which the sides, ends and covermembers are so hinged or connected to the floor as to form in effect aunitary structure, thus preventing the misplacing or loss of any of theparts; to provide a simple door construction which permits of readyaccess to the coop; to provide a construction the major portion of whichis formed from skeleton frame members inclosed by wire netting, therebyreducing cost of manufacture and at the same time securing a lightportable device; and in general to provide an improved construction ofthe character referred to.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings ;Figure 1 is a perspective view of the coop in extendedposition; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same,taken approximately on lines 2-2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view taken approximately on lines 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the coop, but showing same in a collapsed position.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates as a whole the floor of the coopprovided at its edges with a skeleton frame 2 comprising side strips 3and end strips 1. The frame as a whole is slightly inset from the endsof the floor, and upon the outer sides of the end strips 4 is securedsomewhat similar strips 5, which, however, extend above the upper faceof the skeleton frame 2, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Each strip 5is provided at either side with a lug 6 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed.

The end frames 9 and 10 of the coop each consists of a pair of verticalside bars 11, 11, an upper cross piece 12 and a lower rod 13, the latterof which serves the double purpose of forming the lower cross piece ofthe end frame, and also a pintle or journal for the end frame as awhole. Each of these pintle rods 13 is pivotally supported or hinged inscrew eyes 15 seated in the upper face of the side bars 5, respectively.Across each of these end frames is secured a wire netting or mesh 16. Itwill be noted that the side members of the end frame 5 are slightlyinset in order that the upper ends of the cover may be more readilycollapsed in the manner hereinafter described. The lower end of each ofthese vertical strips 11 is slightly round or beveled as shown at 14 sothat end frames may fold down into po sition as shown in Fig. 4:.

Describing now the top frame member 17, it consists essentially of sidestrips 17, end pintle rods 19, 19 and intermediate cross braces 20, 21.Across the top frame as a whole is stretched a wire netting 22, it beingnoted, however, that that portion of the netting between the crossbraces 20, 21, is cut away to form a door opening 23. In the presentinstance, the inner sides of that portion of the netting which is cutaway are secured to wire rods 24: extending between the cross braces and21. The door opening is normally closed by means of a gate 26, andconsists in the present instance of a wire loop, the free ends of whichextend through suitable apertures 28 in the cross piece 20 and areconfined in position by bending back ends of the wire in an obviousmanner. The front end of the loop is adapted to hook over staples 29upon the lower face of the corresponding strip 21. The top frame as awhole is hinged or pivotally connected to the respective end frames 9and 10. Accordingly the pintle 19 is pivotally mounted in screw eyes 30carried by the upper cross piece of the end frame member 9, while thepintle 19 extends through extensions 31 of the side strips 11 of the endframe 10. In order that the cover may fold down, the side strips .17,extend on the outer sides of the end frame member 10, as shown.

The side frames 32 are formed in ,a generally similar manner. Eachconsists of vertical end strips 33, upper cross strips 34 and connectingpintle rods 85. The latter are pivotally supported in screw eyes 36carried by the side strips of the skeleton frame 2. Each of these'sideframe members is provided with a wire netting and are so arranged as tofold within the end frames 9 and 10. 7

Describing now the manner of locking the extended parts inposition,'upon the lower face of eachcross brace of the cover member ismounted a pair of spring clips 37, which are adapted to engage lockingrecesses 37 formed in the upper faces of the side frames. These clipsare so arranged as to auto matically spring into locking engagement withthe side frames when the latter are swung to vertical'position, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 5. Inasmuch as the top and ends are connectedtogether, it is apparent that the coop as a wholemay be locked inextended position by simply raising the cover I V and swinging the sidesinto locking engage- 'mentwith the spring clip. In order to coltlapsethe coop it is only necessary to lift 1 up the clips, and fold in theside members whereupon the top and ends will fold down by gravity. Inorder to automatically lock the coop in collapsed position, the sides ofthe cover member are provided with spring clips 38 adapted to engagepins 39 seated in recesses 40 upon the outer sides, of the skeletonframe 2. When the coop is in collapsed position the: cover member restsupon the ple and efiicient manner.

slugs 6 in such a manner as to prevent the cover from being forced toofar downwardly and thus endangering the breaking of any of the parts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I secure the objects of theinvention in a sim- The invention is not limited to the details ofconstruction shown except as set forth in the appended claim. v

I claim as my invention:

In a collapsible coop, the combination with the bottom, of end membershinged at their lower edges to the bottom, a top hinged to the upperends of the respective end members and folding with the latter, sidemembers likewise hinged at their lower edges to the bottom, and foldingwithin the end members, said sides serving vas braces to support theends when the coop is in extended position, spring clips carried by thetop member and having down turned locking flanges at their free ends,said clips being adapted to pass through suitable recesses in the sideframe to automatically lock the parts in extended position, and meansfor automatically locking the coop in closed position comprising lockingpins carried by the frame and apertured spring clips carried by thecover and adapted to automatically engage said pins when the coop iscollapsed.

FREDERICK D. BERGMAN.

Witnesses JOHN THOMPSON, R. ARTHUR WIEDE.

Copies :of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

